Electrophysiological evidence of atypical processing underlying mental set shifting in ecstasy polydrug and polydrug users.
Carl A Roberts, Stephen H Fairclough, Francis P McGlone, John E. Fisk, Catharine Montgomery
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology December 2013 DOI: 10.1037/a0034002 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional study with EEG Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Ecstasy polydrug users, non-ecstasy polydrug users, and drug-naive controls |
| Measures | number-letter task, P3, P2, N2 |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | No behavioral differences in mental set switching emerged between groups, but regression suggested ecstasy use predicted task performance after controlling for cannabis. EEG showed reduced P3 positivity in both drug groups versus controls, increased N2 negativity in ecstasy users, and atypical P2 processing in ecstasy users compared with both other groups. The authors argue these patterns indicate atypical attentional shifting and possible cognitive inflexibility in ecstasy and polydrug users. |
Abstract
Executive functioning deficits are reported in ecstasy users. However research into mental set switching has been equivocal, with behavioral studies suggesting the function is preserved. The current study sought to address the issue of switching deficits in ecstasy users by combining behavioral performance with electrophysiological correlates (electroencephalography; EEG). Twenty ecstasy polydrug users, 20 nonecstasy polydrug users, and 20 drug naive controls were recruited. Participants completed questionnaires about their drug use, sleep quality, fluid intelligence, and current mood state. Each participant completed a mental set switching task (the number-letter task) while EEG measures were recorded. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed no between-group differences on performance of the task; however a regression suggested that ecstasy use was a significant predictor for performance, after controlling for cannabis use. Mixed ANOVA revealed a significant effect of group on the P3, with significant differences between both drug groups and naives. There was also an interaction between electrode and group on the P2 component, with ecstasy users differing from both other groups. On the P3 component the results suggest a reduction in positivity at parieto-occipital electrodes for drug users compared to controls. Furthermore a significant increase in negativity in ecstasy users compared to control groups could be observed in several occipito-parietal electrodes at an N2 component as well as observable atypicalities in early processing (P2) displayed by ecstasy users and polydrug controls. The present study provides evidence of atypical processing of attentional shifting in ecstasy and polydrug users. Deficits in this executive function could reflect cognitive inflexibility and paucity of rapid behavioral adjustment, which may be problematic in real world situations.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recreational MDMA use in Sydney: a profile of ‘Ecstasy’ users and their experiences with the drug Recreational Ecstasy users recruited via snowball peer network | 1992 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 100 |
| Reducedin vivobinding to the serotonin transporter in the cerebral cortex of MDMA (‘ecstasy’) users Male regular ecstasy users and well-matched controls | 1999 | Cross-sectional association study | n = 20 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |
| Patterns of recreational drug use at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland Drug users at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, aged 16-47, 80% between 18 and... | 2001 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 122 |
| Acute, sub‐acute and long‐term subjective consequences of ‘ecstasy’ (MDMA) consumption in 430 regular users Regular MDMA users | 2003 | Cross-sectional study | n = 466 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- MDMA and brain activity during neurocognitive performance: An overview of neuroimaging studies with abstinent ‘Ecstasy’ users Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews August 8, 2017
- Of mice and men on MDMA: a translational comparison of the neuropsychobiological effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ('Ecstasy'). Brain Research November 14, 2019
- Updating of working memory in ecstasy polydrug users: Findings from fNIRS. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental May 2017
Cites 6
- MDMA polydrug users show processspecific central executive impairments coupled with impaired social and emotional judgement processes Journal of Psychopharmacology March 30, 2006
- The P3 in ‘ecstasy’ polydrug users during response inhibition and execution Journal of Psychopharmacology September 1, 2005
- Event related potential (ERP) evidence for selective impairment of verbal recollection in abstinent recreational methylenedioxymethamphetamine (“Ecstasy”)/polydrug users Psychopharmacology August 1, 2011
- Syllogistic Reasoning Performance in MDMA (Ecstasy) Users. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology 2005
- Residual neuropsychological effects of illicit 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in individuals with minimal exposure to other drugs. Drug and Alcohol Dependence August 16, 2004
and 1 more in the library